Tuesday, May 26, 2015

The Clinton Foundation

The Clinton Foundation’s acting chief executive recently
acknowledged that the organization “made mistakes,” even while insisting it is
fully committed to “honesty,
transparency, andaccountability.”
The organization had previously revealed that it was reviewing its federal tax
filings because it did not properly report donations from foreign governments over several years starting in 2010.
Many have criticized or questioned the $2 billion foundation’s efforts to raise
money from foreign governments while
Hillary Clinton was the U.S. secretary of state.

What
could possibly be wrong with that? There’s never been any conflict-of-interest,
influence peddling, preferential treatment, fraud, bribery, graft or corruption
in and among governments, has there? Certainly that couldn’t happen with a
charitable organization, right?

Peter
Schweizer, in his forthcoming book, “Clinton Cash,” alleges that the State
Department did indeed give preferential treatment to foundation donors while
Clinton was secretary of state. He also avers that the foundation repeatedly
violated its own promise to disclose all of its donors. These are, or should
be, serious charges. There are many potential ramifications if a sovereign government
(of a large and free nation, yet!) gives preferential treatment or assistance
to individual entities or other governments because they made a donation to an
individual employee’s foundation. And none of them are good. That is all the
more true if that “employee” was a former President or First Lady. Independence
and integrity are shown the door as the sleaze factor takes over.

The
insistence that the foundation is committed to honesty, transparency andaccountability
is, of course, laughable on its face.

The
long and sordid history of Bill and Hillary Clinton makes clear that those are
three words that never have and never will apply to them- or anything that they
are involved with. The more lies they tell, the more they obfuscate and attempt
to hide every shady aspect of their actions, the more honest and transparent
and accountable they claim to wish to be. This has been going on for decades
and decades now, in private life and while in office.

Whether
the topic is Whitewater, Travelgate, Monica Lewinsky, Chinese influence, Vince
Foster, Gennifer Flowers, Benghazi, using personal computers for government
business, or any one of many others, there is always the desire on the
Clinton’s part to cover up…to shield their actions- or inactions- from the
public. They seem to take a childlike glee in seeing what they can get away
with, and we have let them get away
with that.

The
Clintons buy and sell obfuscation in bulk. They get the giant, economy sized
package at Costco. If prevarication were an Olympic sport, they would be the
first U.S. team. They might not medal, but they’d give the Russians, Chinese,
North Koreans and Iranians a run for their money.

Honesty,
transparency and accountability are to the Clintons as humility, patriotism and
tradition are to the Obamas.

No, the
Clinton Foundation isn’t based on any of these traits.

The
foundation of the Clinton’s lives is
to do whatever they feel is in their
best interests. And then deny it, if necessary.

No
longer should they be allowed to get away with it. It is time we do what is in our best interests.

Daily Trivia Quiz Answer

Today's Answer: Andrew Jackson. ("Poll" got so worked up before the service he apparently had to be removed from the premises, as he was cussing long and loud).

Q) What words appear on the front of the penny, nickel, dime and quarter, alongside the likeness of presidents?

A) "Liberty" and "In God We Trust"

An Ode To Life

Appreciate all you have, as it- and you- will soon be gone. Leave no heartfelt words unspoken, no sweet gesture incomplete, no act of love undone. Love your spouse with passion and abandon, your kids with patience and understanding but also a firm guidance. Love also the truth, no matter how hard. If pursued by enough people with enough courage, it really will set us free.

And don't forget, we didn't ask to be born. We didn't create ourselves. We are not gods. There is a higher power.

Fireworks of the Mind

Write It Up

Whence Shall Come Another?

True Then, True Now

"If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."- Winston Churchill

Time Well Wasted

The power lies within your hands To do with what you may But the hourglass is filled with sands Of endless yesterdays